The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-03-25

| TtCeiVeu tu tne luluS Vi DuC
will spare YOU"
Jack flushed red, and sank help
less bulk, into the chair indicated.
He turned his blonde beard and blue
eyes hopelessy toward Mrs. de Sille,
as much as to say: your knight is
conquered. Come and help him"
cannot rememaer tenth the lady
said. Each newcomer seemed to add
fuel TO the fire OF her talk; bon nots, an.
ecdotes, unexpected salies flew from
her lips. She would lean forward in her
monologue. and every man Jack OF us
would fix his eyes on her. Yet not
one OF us could have sworn to her
features or cooring. The strain OF
her conversation was blended equally
OF the past and present, always local,
full OF names that are but ghosts to-
day, or are heard in that haunt Of
ghosts, the Historical Society. no.
ticed tendency to use French phrases
at every twist and turn. She spoke
OF Burr.
"Ah, there was n mani was in
love with him, intellectually, OF course,
that used to watch for him when he
came from his law office. 1t was not
the thing to know him. He was II
scapegrace, perhaps; but what face,
what spirit, what eyes, what a soul!
Some day must tell you how got to
know him. and what | had to suffer
from my family in consequence"
As she talked noticed that she new
er allowed one OF the group about her
to feel that he was not in the CONVEX
sation. Did his interest relax a mo-
ment or his thoughts wander from her.
she OWNED it instantly and was down
on him rs quick rs magic. Now it
was n direct question-always answer
ed by herself--now n turn OF the head,
and again a movement OF the fan.
The group i'll the gallery attracted
general attention, and several couples
began to move toward it. At last
saw that Mrs. de Stiles curiosity was
Mt its height and she was coming
Doubtless, through all the flow of
her "reminiscences and social conclu-
sions. the strange lady perceived this
quite as well rs |. She rose suddenly,
motioned me to give her my arm,
saluted the group OF now standing
men with curtsey that was in Itself n
literal education Tor society, and ear
red me off down one flight 'of steps rs
Mrs. de Sille began to ascend the 9th
err. Ter little hand, clad in black
mitts, through which shown an
ivory skin, did not feel warm
or heavy. was there, but
it gave me an understandable
feeling not chilly, but as the arm OF II
figure, and ! detected in the air what
seemed II faint smell OF lavender.
Chatting agreenhly, she sauntered
with me across the ballroom, glancing
Mt the pictures, asking their names,
but seeming not to heed my answers.
Pausing at the door, east u look at
the gallery and saw Mrs de Sille loom
ing outrageous at this uncivil depart
ure. She was in u quandary, not
knowing but that n merry peal OF
laughter might appraise her OF II Joke
played by some young girl. AS we
went, people stopped and stared at
the gown, the embroidered stockings,
and the air OF perfect aplomb. We
walked through fernery and hall, din
ing room and drawing rooms, till we
reached the grand hall, where the
stairway rises flight by flight through
the centre of the house.
"Wait for me here" she whispered.
al have to arrange my dress; 1t Is
very old, and see seam is break
ing. An revoir tant-tot-"
She ran lightly up the broad, dark
i.c hat Vt, fam "A n
advantage rs she moved and from the
landing above leaned over so that |
saw her dark eyes for u moment-and
let iall something that swirled and
swirled unevenly, ke an autumn leaf,
down to where stood. Ii was moth
ing but II sprig oil immorteiles such rs
one associates with the grave, not
with young woman capriclous enough
to play q hoax on n ballroom, beauti-
ful enough to hold the eyes OF every
man who saw her.
waited pc silently. The last guests
were going. Mrs. De Sille came with
them to the hall.
II want you to stay" she cried
"And must stay" said !. ''for the
stranger-or some wonderful actress
among or iriends-it still up stairs
and bade me wait for her"
81 thought my hostess looked agi-
tated, AMI FASTENED to assure her that
the lad, could not have had wrong in
tentions; that she would be down
presently and doubtless reveal her
identity. A footman went up stairs,
returned, and reported from the maid
servants that all the ladies were gone.
Impossible" said |. Not one lady
came down that stair whom did not
know, nor one who could have played
that part. She is somewhere up